For those who are seeking truth of the First American Culture. We are in the process of helping everyone to understand who and why the First American is the same as everyone else and also why they are unique in our greater society.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Truth and Fiction - Can Technology Help First Americans Break Free from Stereotype and be Heard? - Lisa Cooper

In America today, the general imagery and perception of the Native American has changed very little. In a recent TED talk,
Nancy Marie Mithlo drew our attention to the fact that this fictitious
imagery of the Native American still has a firm hold on American
perceptions. She labeled these perceptions the ‘Americana Indian’, to
distinguish between these false images and portrayals and the reality of
the modern day Native American. Such perceptions undoubted continue to
cause problems for the community, but in recent years, with the advent
and ease of access to the internet and mobile communications, could embracing
the use of technology play a fundamental part in helping Native
American communities join their voices and be heard, and thus go some
way towards breaking down and laying to rest such archaic and
stereotypical images from the American psyche?

Current Trends in American Technology Use

In general, technology use around the world has vastly increased in the
last few years or so, and that trend is set to continue, especially in
the US. With the recent advent of mobile tablets and ipads,
there are predictions that these devices in particular will be
increasing in use, with around 44% of homes owning a tablet device of
some description currently. This has increased by about 1% in two years.
Further more, consumers in America are becoming more tech savvy, and with a number of new devices and upcoming tech having being showcased earlier this year in Las Vegas,
the market looks to be going from strength to strength. This is all
well and good, but how do Native Americans fit into this picture? There
is no doubt of the benefits being able to access mobile technology and
the internet can have when it comes to organization and communication
between communities, but there are still a number of barriers in the way
for First Americans, especially those in the more rural areas of the country or on reservations.

The Barriers to Access

In 2009, it was estimated that around 39% of rural or reservation based
Native Americans had access to a telephone line, compared with 94% in
urban areas. A detailed paper on the divide in technology and
access to it studies this issue more closely, and also that of
maintaining the preservation of Native American culture and lands while
attempting to bridge this divide. Infrastructure then, is one problem.
Another is financial. Many Native American communities are on or below the poverty line. This makes saving and meeting everyday needs difficult enough - the added cost of a tablet or smartphone
is likely to be well out of reach for many. Most tablets, for example
retail at around the $200 mark for the cheaper varieties. Supposing this
is affordable, there are still additional services that are often
necessary for such devices, such as financial protection in
the event of theft or damage, and so on. That said, the prices of these
devices will steadily drop as newer models are released, meaning that
the playing field will be leveled somewhat as technology continues to
develop.

Accessibility for the Future?

Interestingly, back in 1994, Congress commissioned a study on
the use of technology by Native Americans, and how this could impact
the strength and reach of communities and activists. The study found
that many official Native American bodies and communities were quick to
embrace the internet especially, along with mobile communications as a
whole, and the proposed measures to enable this empowerment to continue.
Many communities are still waiting for this empowerment. The main
problem is still the disparity in service for native Americans,
especially broadband services. A study from 2009 shows there is a huge gap in access for many communities, especially those on
reservations. As mentioned, this is in part due to logistics of phone
lines, but also the cost. Again, for many poorer communities, this will
be a luxury that is simply not attainable. The internet has shown that
time and time again voices can be heard around the world and draw
attention to injustice or issues that communities face. Provided Native
American communities can find ways to overcome the current obstacles
placed in front of them when it comes to technology access, then more
attention can be drawn to these problems. That said, and perhaps
ironically, more widespread access may be required to draw further
attention to the eligibility problem in the first place. Either way,
technology can only be of benefit to Native American communities in the
long run, and that's what makes access to it so fundamental.